ZF to start autonomous electric vehicles production this year

German supplier ZF Friedrichshafen’s push into vehicle manufacturing will intensify as its joint venture for full-electric, connected and automated shuttles starts production of the e.Go Mover this year with the aim of reaching five-digit output numbers in two to three years.

An unspecified number of e.Go Movers will go to Transdev as the France-based mobility provider becomes the first customer for e.Go Moove GmbH, the JV that includes ZF and German startup electric vehicle maker e.Go Mobile, according to Automotive News.

ZF said that it plans to invest 12 billion Euro over the next five years in electric and autonomous vehicle technology. ZF, e.Go Mobile and Transdev want to have the vehicle ready for deployment by 2020 with France and Germany being the initial launch markets.